CM calls upon IAS officers to work for state’s interest

Dehradun, 16 Dec:  Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today called upon all the IAS officers to work to the best of their efficiency level and administrative capacity towards making Uttarakhand one of the leading states of the country by 2025. He again stressed upon working and moving ahead with the mantra of simplification and solution. He was addressing the officers after the inauguration of the Administrative Officers Conference at the Secretariat here today. The Chief Minister said that all the suggestions which had come forward in the Chintan Shivir organised in Mussoorie for the overall development of the state, ought to be considered seriously and implemented in earnest.

Dhami said that special attention be paid to simplification of procedures for solving public problems. It be ensured that the general public did not have to make rounds of the offices to get their work done. Focus should be on bringing the file system online.

The Chief Minister further called upon the officers to ensure that the files were not unnecessarily kept pending at the government level. All pending files needed to be relooked at and moved ahead. He also called for fixing of accountability of officials concerned in case of the files being kept pending needlessly.

The CM also observed that in the districts, the District Magistrate and the Chief Development Officer had an important role in carrying forward the government schemes. He called upon them to ensure that the people standing on the last line of the society get full benefit of the schemes of the Central and State Government. Tehsil Day and BDC meetings of all the districts be held regularly. He also reminded them that it was necessary for the officers to maintain good behaviour with the general public. He said that village chaupals would be organised on Good Governance Day, in which all IAS officers ought to participate in village chaupals in different areas. The Chief Minister said that in some districts, apart from their work, public service works were being done by the District Magistrates in extra time, which was a commendable effort. He said that apart from their administrative work, if the officers were rendering public service efficiently in the field in which they were proficient, then it was effort worth lot of appreciation and was good for the state.

Pushkar Singh Dhami reminded that in 2023 the G-20 summit would be held in India. Two teams from G-20 would also come to Uttarakhand. He called upon the officers to discuss in detail during the current conference about effective promotion of local products and handicrafts of Uttarakhand. He said that the Amrit Kaal of the country was underway and the conference ought also discuss what could be done for the state during the Amrit Kaal.

Chief Secretary Dr SS Sandhu said that the basic mantra of IAS week was to know each other. Due to this, the bonding that happened by being with each other, tended to increases the work efficiency and gradually improving the official working also. The Chief Secretary said that creating a familiar atmosphere in the office also would lead to increased efficiency. He asked the officers posted in the districts to be sensitive towards the problems faced by the people related to roads, power and water supply etc and therefore patient hearing be done while hearing the problems from the people. If the officers understood the problems of the people, then they could find a solution to these problems.

The Chief Secretary said that officers need to be always positive in their approach and this would be better for the personal as well as professional lives of the bureaucrats. He stressed that the rules were made to make the work easier, not to create obstacles. It was a matter of interpretation and that many officers and employees interpreted the rules in such a way which had not been originally intended.

The Chief Secretary said that if the officers faced any problem, then they always had senior officers to consult and guide them and they ought to feel free to speak to them. He stressed that he was always available to them.  The Chief Secretary said that there was a lot of potential in the production of flowers, fruits and vegetables in our state. This could provide employment to thousands of people. He said that there was a lot of demand for polyhouses in our state, but very little was being given from the district plan. He asked the District Magistrates to ensure 100 percent saturation of polyhouses by 31 March next year. He said that by talking to old age people and involving them, knowing their needs and providing facilities for them could help in reverse migration.

Dr Sandhu said that one would have to be sensitive by keeping a positive attitude and not letting dreams of doing good for the country that all had seen while joining services die.